The hidden hazards of clay: a qualitative exploration of silica exposure and well-being in ceramic art studios

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study examines how Ghanaian ceramic artists and students perceive and respond to crystalline silica exposure in studio environments, situated within Ghana's ceramic traditions where safety infrastructure and occupational health regulation remain uneven, and how these experiences influence health awareness and artistic identity in creative practice. METHODOLOGY: A qualitative interpretive phenomenological design was employed, using in-depth interviews with fifty Ghanaian ceramic artists and students with at least one year of active studio practice and exposure to clay-processing. Participants were selected regardless of respiratory symptoms to capture lived experiences. Participant observation was conducted in selected studios, and thematic analysis was applied to narratives to explore meaning-making and changing perceptions of silica-related health risks. RESULTS: Findings identified a process through which artists integrate health awareness into their artistic identity, moving from initial disbelief about clay-related danger to increased bodily awareness, fear, and negotiating of normalized studio risk. Participants reported persistent chronic cough, chest tightness, and breathing difficulties associated with prolonged dust exposure, generatinganxiety and behavioral adaptations. CONCLUSIONS: Silica exposure is a cultural, educational, and institutional issue, requiring integrated health education, improved studio design, strengthened safety communication, and embedded occupational health practices to sustain long-term creative practice.